"The United Nations vote today was a victory for the Yemen citizens before anyone else," he said, adding the Council "sees the dangers in Yemen". The UN Security Council resolution was the first formal action by the body since the start of Saudi air strikes on March 26.

"I proposed a cease-fire followed by all inclusive Yemeni dialogue that is facilitated by others," he said.

This could lead, he argued, "to the formation of a government in Yemen that represents a broadly based community." The Huthis, drawn from Yemen's Shiite Zaidi minority, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, sweeping south from their highland stronghold.

Undaunted by the Saudi bombardment, they have since seized swathes of the country, bringing intense fighting to the port city of Aden.

The air campaign was launched by Saudi Arabia and a coalition of five Gulf monarchies plus Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan.